Fuel burner system



Aug 29, 1933. Y J. v. BREISKY ET AL FUEL BURNER SYS TEM' Filed June 29,1928 lNVENTpRS John M Ere/sky & Thofnos Draper A'TTORNEY UNITED STATES-rn'rENr OFFICE 1,934,364 FUEL minivan SYSTEM John v. Breisky,Pittsburgh, and- Thomas Draper, Swissvale, Pa assignors to WestinghouseElectric and Manufacturing Company, a Corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication June 29, 1928; Serial in. 289,201

' Claims. (01. 15828) Our invention relates to fuel-buming systems shownas being suitably connected to, and driven and particularly to methodsof control therefor. by, the motor 24. The blower forces air An objectof our invention is to provide-a relathrough a suitable conduit 27 whichextends into tively simple control system for a fuel-feeding the furnacechamber 17 and has located therein 5 m ans, an oil conduit 28 connectedto the pump 26 and Another object of our invention is to provideprovided with a suitable orifice, in order that the a relatively simplemeans for a system ofcheckoil pumped therethrough may issue in anatoming the operativeness of a fuel-igniting means.- ized condition tobe' burned in the furnace cham- Another object of our invention is toprovide 'ber 17. I 10 a relatively simple means for, and system of,While we have shown and described a specific 5 controlling thefuel-feeding means in accordance 1 embodiment of the fuel-feeding means,we do not with the operativeness of the fuel-ignition means. desire to.be limited thereto, as these are shown In practicing our invention, weprovide an elecf r llus r iv p p o y. I tric fuel-feeding means, such asa motor, a con- --A control system for the -f n an 15 tinuouslyoperating fuel-ignition means includis energized'from two supply-circuitconductors ing a suitable transformer and a spark gap elec- 31 and 32. Afuel-igniting means comprises 'trically connected thereto, a circuitcontroller transformer having a pr ry i 3, a c ndfor the fuel-feedingmeans which is actuated in e y c i 3 and an i core 35- The ignitionaccordance with the operativeness of the fueltransformer is shownschematically y, d it 20 ignition means by the inclusion of aplural-e'lecis t0 be understood that the P y o 3 i trodeelectrical-discharge device controlled by of h e n h t it may beconnected to the the fuel-ignition means. A room thermostat source ofupp d hat th s dary windin and a thermostat. located in the stack of the34 is P d w uch number of turns of wire furnace, as well as a time-delaycircuit-inter as will generate a relatively high voltage between 25rupting device, are also provided, the terminals thereof on the order of10,000 volts. s0

Referring to the single sheet of drawing, n e n of the e o dary windin34 i Figure 1 is a view, mainly in vertical section, connected toground, while the other n l through an t h ti it which is associatedthereof is connected to one terminal 36 of a spark th system embodyingour invention, shown gap by a conductor 37, As the metallic conduitsschematically ly, d, 27 and 28 are usually effectively grounded, we

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of connections may-Provide a Spa k gapcomprising an electrode of a modified system embodying our invention.terminal 1 located as shown in 1 0f the Referring more particularly toFig. 1 of the drawing, p d a small distance from a codrawing, we havethere shown a view of a poroperating electrode secured-to o dui 2'1 topertion of a house including a basement floor 11, 11111? of Obtainingthe proper sparking therebeone side wall 12, which may be made of brickor tween when the isnitiontrensformer is suitably concrete, and a roomfloor 13-above a basement energized- However, desired: ground chamber 4I nection may be provided for the conduits2'1 and K furnace 15 islocated in the basement chamas is Shown in 1 of the drawing. be: 14 andmay be of any suitable or desiredtype. A room thermostat 38, of anydesired im t usually employed for such purposes, being here here shownembodyinga' bimetal strip, s 1- shown as embodying anim'ler casing wall16 cated in the room heated by the furnace and has rounding a fuelchamber 17, an outer casing 18 'E there cmnected i supplyi and aplurality of hot-air outlets 19. A chimney Ponductor while the other mi41} pipe or flue 21 tends into the wan 12 and thereof is connected,through a conductor';39, to,100 communicates with a suitable upwardlyextendo terminal o e r m winding 33. the lng chimney 22. While'we haveillustrated and of which is connected, by a descrlbeda specificembodiment of our furnace, dimer 40, to-the pnlncircuit conductor 32. wedo not desire to be thereto, as furnace i one terminal of an i or n typeusable t a f burner m be tactor 42 is connected to the conductor 39,whi1e 106 employed. i the oth r terminal of the actuating coil 41 isconl A .A suitable, supportingframe 23 is located on nestedby aconductor 4 .11 one terminal of a 4 the floor 11 adjacent to the furnaceand has' b f f c -discha device 44 mounted thereon an electric motor 24,a-pressure the other terminal of whichis connected, y blower 25 and anoil pump 26, which are here eoildlletor to th supply-circuit conductor32. no

' 44 may be mounted adjustably'relatively to the.

The device 44 may be a glow tube of any suitable type which comprises asuitable container initially exhausted and then partially filledwith aninert gas, and two spaced electrodes extending traverse the device ifconnected to a suitable.

source ofelectric energy. p v

'The tube 44 is so located as to be within the electric field ofthehigh-frequency current traversing the spark gap and the conductor 37.In

order to increase the effect of the coupling, a plurality of turns ofthe conductor 37 may be placed around the tube 44, so that itis possibleto effect actuation of the tube 44 only when the highfrequency sparkingat the spark gap is of such nature as to efiect ignition of the fuel.The tube straight conductor 37 inorder to be able to obtain this result.

The actuating -coil 41 of the contactor energizes a core member 46 whichhas a contact bridging member 47 and a pair of fixed contact members 48associated therewith. One of the contact members 48 is connected to theconductor 39 and the other contact member 48 iselectrically connected toaconductor 49 which is connected to one terminal of a heating element orcoil 50 of a thermal time-delaycircuit-controlling device 51 embodying,in addition to the heating coil 50, a

bimetallic strip 52, terminal members 53 and 54 and a latch 54a. Theterminal member 53 is fixed in position, and the strip 52 is suitablysecured thereto, so that the other end thereof may engage, or bedisengaged from, the other -termie nal 54. The latch 54a holds the strip52 in its open position and is manually operable to permit reengagementof the contact members when the strip 52 has cooled sufficiently. Whilewe have shown a bimetallic element in combination withthe heating coil,we do not wish to "be limited thereto, as we may structed as to have theproper time-delay action,

or we may use a mercury switch actuatedby a bi:-

metal element. The other terminal of the heating cofl 50 is connected tothe contact member 54, while the contactterminal 53 is connected to oneterminal of the energizing winding of motor 24, the other terminal ofwhich supply-circuit conductor 32.

A- thermostat 55', which may embody a bimetallic strip 56, is' locatedin the flue 21 to be engaged by the heated productsofcombustiongenerated by the burning fuel. One end of the strip 56 is suitablymounted on a contact terminal 57, while the free end thereof may engage,or be-disengaged from, a contact terminal 58. The-contact terminal 58is-electrically connected, through a conductor 59, to the terminal 53 ofthe device 51.

The contact. terminal 57 is connected, by means of a conductor 60, tothe conductor 49. The connection is such that the thermostatic device10- cated in the hue 21 is connected in parallel-circuit relationrelatively to the time-delay device.

Referring to Fig. 2, we have there shown av different coupling betweenthe tube 44 and the conductor 37. A layer 61 of electric-conductingmateriaL; such as'tinfcil, is placed around the container, and. a plate62 0f electric-conducting inaterial is located in adjustable proximityto the conductor 37, being held by any suitable means (not shown). Aconductor 63 connects the memuse-a mercury switch so con-' is connectedto .tor 24, as well as through the 51. This causes operation of vthemotor, whereby erly, the strip 56 will bers 61 and 62, thereby providingaconducting connection therebetween'. The coupling between the conductor37 and the device44 is a capacitative one and has been found to beparticularly effective in controlling the operation of the tube 44. Theelement 62 is preferably adjustably mounted'relatively to the conductor37, by means not shown, so that the relative capacitance therebetweenmay be varied whereby it is possible to cause the tube 44 to beenergized or actuated only when the high-frequency sparking at the sparkgap is such as to effect properignition of the atomized oil.

The respective elements of our system are shown in their inoperative ordeenergized positions in which the room thermostat is open for thereason that the temperature of it and of the room in which it is locatedis equal to, or higher than, a predetermined value. As no heatedproducts of combustion are traversing the flue 21, the stack thermostat55, located in the flue, is also in its open position so that the timedelay device 51, embodying the heating coil 50 and the bimetallicelement 52, is not short circuited and, therefore, not inactive.

The contact-bridging member 47 of the contactor 42' is not in engagementwith the cooperating contacts 48. The .motor is y no oil and air arebeing forced out, under suitable pressures, through the conduits 28 and27 to be burned in the furnace chamber 17.

If it be assumed that the room temperature drops below a predeterminedvalue, the room thermostat 38 will-close, whereby a circuit is providedthrough the primary coil 33 of the ignition transformer. This circuit iseasily seen from Fig. '2 and comprises the room thermostat 38, conductor39, the primary coil 33, conductor 40 and the supply-circuit conductors31 and 32, which are assumed to be suitably energized. This energizesthe ignition transformer so that a relatively high deenergized andpotential is generated between the ends of the.

winding 34, and sparking will occur between the gap electrode 36 and theelectrode on the conduit 28, this continuing as long as the roomthermostat remains closed. This causes a high frequency current totraverse the conductor 37, and an electrical field will be generatedtherearound which will'ion'ize the space between the electrodes of theglow tube 44.

The glow tube 44 is'connected in .series circuit relation with theactuating coil 41 of the circuitcontrolling device 42 for thefuel-feeding means 24 and is also connected across the supply-circuitconductors 31 and 32 through the room thermo- IIS stat 38. If theionization of the-glow tube 44 is sufficiently strong, as will be thefrequency sparking at the spark gap is of such character as to properlyignite the fuel, a-current will traverse it and the coil 41, causingmovement of the core member 46 to cause the bridging member 47 to engagethe contact members 48 and to thereby close an electric circuit throughthemotime-delay device case if the high oil is fed, under pressure, intothe furnace cham ber through the conduit 28,-reaching it in an atomizedcondition.

As the ignition means has been assumed to be properly eflective, theatomized oil will be ignited and burned in the furnacechamber 17. Theoperation of the thermostat 55 in the fiue 21 is quicker than theoperation of the time-delay device 51 and, if the oil continues to burnpropmove to engage its contact rents, means,- responsive quency currentsproduced by said ignition means,

58 and thereby short circuit and render inoperative the time delaydevice 51. If the above described sequence 'of operations has beeneffected, the furnace will be in proper operative condition and will socontinue until the room heated thereby has been heated to the'desiredtemperature, after which the thermostat 38 will operate to interrupt thecircuit and return the system to its inoperative condition, asheretofore described.

If, on the other hand, after operationof the room thermostat andenergization of the fueligniting means, the sparks should not be of thenecessary volume or character or should be entirely absent, by reason ofa gap that is either too large or toosmall, the glow tube 44 will not beproperly ionized. In this case, the coil 41 of the fuel-feed controlmeans 42 will not be energized, and the motor will not start. If,further, the fueligniting means should be properly operative, but.

the fuel be notignited, or if there should be no fuel to be ignited, thethermostat located in the flue or the stack would not operate, and thetimedelay device would become operative by reason .of the motor currenttraversing the coil 50 heating the strip 52 and causing it to move todisengage the contact member 54, the result being that the electricalcircuit through the fuel-feeding means is again opened and the systemis, therefore, shutdown. The latch 54:; will hold the strip 52 in itsopen or disengaged position, and an operator must actuate the latch torelease the strip 52 before the system will again be ready foroperation. I

If, for any reason whatever, the ignition" means becomes ineffectiveduring the, operation of the system, the fuel-feeding means will bedeenergized so that no unburned oil can accumulate in the furnacechamber. By ineffective, we do not necessarily mean that there is nosparking at the gap, but that the volume or intensity of such sparkingis not sufficient to properly ignite the oil, as may be the case if thespark gap becomes too small.

The system embodying our invention, therefore, provides a relativelysimple and highly eflicient means for checking the operativeness of thefueligniting means, control for fuel burners in which the fuel feedingmeans, preferably of an electrical nature, is controlled jointly by aroom thermostat and by electrical means energized in accordance with theoperativeness of the fuel-igniting means and embodying aplural-electrode, electrical-discharge device.

Various modifications may be made in the system embodying our inventionwithout departing from the spirit andscope thereof, and we desire,therefore, that only such limitations shall be placedthereon as areimposed by the prior art or are set forth in the appended claims.

-We claim as our invention:

1. In a fuel burner of the type including fuel supply means and fuelignition means that is of the type capable of producing high frequencycuronlyto the high frefor controlling said fuel supply means.

as well as providing a system of 2. In a fuel burner of the typeincluding fueltupply means and fuel-ignition means that is of the typecapable of producing a high frequency electromagnetic field, means,including an electric discharge gap to be traversed by theelectromagnetic iield produced by. said ignition means, and responsiveonly to said electromagnetic field for controlling said fuel-supplymeans.

3. In a fuel burner system of the type including electrically operatedfuel-supply means and electrical means including a circuit having sparkterminals forming a spark gap for igniting the fuel to be delivered bysaid fuel supply means, means, including an electric discharge devicecomprising a plurality of electrodes immersed in a gaseous medium andmeans for subjecting said eiectric discharge device to theelectromagnetic field excited by the spark circuit to produce an ionizedcondition in said gaseous medium when said spark has the propercharacter for ignition and thereby to produce an electric dischargebetween said electrodes; and means controlled by said electric dischargedevice to energize said fuel feeding means when a discharge passesbetween the electrodes of said device,

4. In a fuel burner system of the type including electrically operatedfuel-supply means and electrical means including a circ t having sparkter minals forming a spark gap for igniting the fuel to be delivered bysaid fuel supply means, means, including an electric discharge devicecomprising a plurality of electrodes immersed in a gaseous medium andmeans including a. capacitive coupling for subjecting said electricdischarge device to the electromagnetic field excited by the sparkcircuit to produce an ionizedcondition in said gaseous medium when saidspark has the proper character for ignition and thereby to produce anelectric discharge between said electrodes, and n5 means controlled by.said electric discharge device to energize sa'd fuel feeding means whena discharge passes between the electrodes of said device. I

v 5. In a fuel burner system of the type including electrically operatedfuel-supply means and electrical means including a circuit having sparkterminals forming a spark gap for igniting the fuel to be delivered bysaid fuel supply means, means, including an electric discharge devicecomprising a plurality of electrodes immersed in a gaseous medium and acoil in the spark circuit,

to beenergized by the current traversing the" same when it is energized,positioned adjacent to said electric discharge device to subject saidgaseous medium to its electromagnetic field to pro-- duce an ionized con'tion in said gaseous medium when said spark has the proper characterfor is:- nition, and thereby to produce an electric discharge betweensaid electrodes; and means com trolled by said electric discharge deviceto energize said fuel feeding means when a discharge passes between theelectrodes of said device.

JOHN .3mm. 14; moms DRAPER.

